12/22/2025 (2825)

Hello Dunseith Alumni and Friends.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Cebu, Philippines.

Things are busy for us too, but manageable and enjoyable. This week alone we have had or are having 5 Dinner/Supper evening gatherings with friends at various restaurants.

 Angel’s sister Joy, with her 4 year old son and 5 year old daughter along with Angel/Joy’s father will be visiting us from Mindanao. Mindanao is the southern most Philippine Island, one hour plane ride. They will be arriving December 26th and will be leaving January 1St. Joy has to be back to work on the 2nd. She’s A Senior High School English Teacher in the public schools. This will be the first time for me to meet the kids. We purchased toys for the kids that Angel is wrapping now. They are not used to getting Christmas gifts, so this will be exciting for them. Santa Clause doesn’t come to very many houses here in the Philippines. The money just isn’t there for the extras.

 Christmas Day we are invited to our very close and dear Expat friend’s house for dinner. They are from Wisconsin and have been living here for about 10 years now. This is my 21st year here too.

 Gary and Angel Stokes
Gary Angel

Connie Burcham Sime (DHS ’62) Passed away

Posting from her Daughter Shelley Sime Fossen: Jamestown, ND
https://www.facebook.com/shelley.fossen

Connie Sime, age 81 of Dunseith, passed away on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at a Williston, ND hospital
Obituary, soon, will be posted in Nero’s Funeral home Website
https://www.nerofuneralhome.net/ind.cfm

Shelley’s remarks,
The Matriarch of our family is gone.
Dear, sweet momma, Connie, left with the dawn.
No more of her hugs or talking on the phone.
Momma passed away while these ND winds were just beginning to blow.
Connie Sime

The following postings are from
Vickie Metcalfe (70):  Bottineau, ND

Posted in the date order received.

October 19, 2024
From KX NEWS

https://www.kxnet.com/news/local-news/veterans-memorial-monument-installed-in-granville-cemetery/

Hey Gary and Dunseith friends,

Granville is located on Highway  2.
The veterans building  meeting place  going North on the main street is also home to a great  cafe.

Many Bottineau vets stop there on the way to Minot.

Also, many local Bottineau area folks (ME)
enjoy home cooked breakfasts and lunch specials.
The cafe offers HOME cooked meals!!!

I discovered it after hearing about it from local Bottineau folks….

Vickie

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November 21, 2024

Gary Stokes Dunseith friends,

Hello Gary and friends,

I went to bed a couple nights ago after listening  to the impending snow reports.I thought. “UffDA, my poor *fur babies) dogs and I won’t be walking in the wintery blast”.

Yesterday. I emailed friends  from afar, snowy  area photos.I thought of  winter times long ago as a wee  Child of the HIlls.

—— Original Message ——–

YES! I like brown Thanksgivings. 

I remember  my dad  and Art talking about  “an open winter”.
What’s open?

As a little kid;
I’d wake up to voices,  mom and dad in the kitchen, putting wood into the  kitchen wood stove and talking….

I sleepilly …. really wondered  “Who was “Old Man Winter”?
a guy that came in the night?
And was he kin to “Jack Frost”,
A rascal  who frosted pretty..paned windows?

For me , as an adult, the first blast, like yesterday is usually an awakening,
Where is my winter gear, shovel, warm outerwear?
WHERE the heck , is the windshield scraper?
Search and rescue time for sure………..

I crawl into the car, happy  and thankful  to  L. my nephew pushed  heavy snow off  the driveway,
I drive  east, a few blocks  to Cenex for morning routine   “CUPPA, (breakfast blend.”)…

Then, Oh yes, I need to recall how to use  those driving  skills on ice and deep snow .
Climate change?
No its  the annual  season change.
It’s here, the  full NOrth Dakota  snow, ice and cold Winter!!

Later, Vickie

 ===========================================================

 Dec 12, 2024

Hello Gary
Perhaps Friends of Dunseith School, Angel & You would enjoy this recent  article. from KFYR tv.
What an experience for those kids to expand  understanding and  knowledge of another culture.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Vickie Metcalfe

——– Original Message ——–

Read more on Mott-Regent High School choir brings international flair to annual Christmas program at

https://www.kfyrtv.com/2024/12/10/mott-regent-high-school-choir-brings-international-flair-annual-christmas-program/